Physical anthropology

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Physical anthropology

Physical anthropology (pronounced /ˈfɪzɪkəl/ /ˌænθrəˈpɒlədʒi/), also known as biological anthropology, is a scientific discipline concerned with the biological and behavioral aspects of human beings, their related non-human primates and their extinct hominin ancestors. It is a subfield of anthropology that provides a biological perspective to the systematic study of human beings.

Etymology

The term "Physical anthropology" is derived from the Greek words "physikos" meaning "nature" and "anthropos" meaning "man". The term was first used in the early 19th century when scientists began to show a growing interest in understanding human evolution and diversity from a biological perspective.

Related Terms

  • Anthropology: The scientific study of humans, human behavior and societies in the past and present.
  • Hominin: A primate of a family (Hominidae) that includes humans and their fossil ancestors.
  • Primate: A mammal of an order that includes the lemurs, bushbabies, tarsiers, marmosets, monkeys, apes, and humans.
  • Human evolution: The lengthy process of change by which people originated from apelike ancestors.
  • Biological perspective: A way of looking at psychological issues by studying the physical basis for animal and human behavior.

See also

External links

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